𝐁𝐄𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐒 | 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐄 𝐆𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐄

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 23

𝙾𝙲𝚃𝙾𝙱𝙴𝚁 𝟸𝟼, 𝟸𝟶𝟷𝟿

THE NEXT MORNING CHARLIE AND skylar were headed off to the studio. she was seated on the coach as charlie was next to her, slowly playing the tune of unsaid emily

a few other music producers and the two writers of unsaid emily, dan petty and michelle lewis were there as well

"are the rest of the boys coming?" skylar asked charlie. he looked up at her and he shook his head. "i thought they were. what about maddie?"

"nope" charlie answered with a smile

"you didn't invite them?" skylar questioned as he shook his head "why is that?" she asked as she tugged on her hoodie's sleeve, well actually it was charlie's hoodie considering it was pretty cold outside and all skylar had on was a thin long sleeve shirt, so charlie gave her his extra hoodie that was in his car

"because they would've just distracted me" he jokingly answers

she tilted her head at his response. "but aren't i distracting you by being here?" she questioned

charlie shook his head before grinning softly "you're my person...you keep me sane"

"charlie, you're able to go in now" one of the producers calls out

charlie stayed put as skylar and him kept their glances on each other. "go" she smiled as she started getting butterflies in her stomach. he smirked before getting up and headed into the booth 

dan and michelle went in with him first, to show him how they thought it would sound good. charlie went through the whole song chunk by chunk for about three times before recording it for the first time through

"i should have turned around
but i had too much pride"

"no time for goodbyes
didn't get to apologise
pieces of a clock that lies broken"

"if i could take us back
if i could just do that
and write in every empty space
the words i love you in replace
and every time would not erase me

"if you could only know
i never let you go" charlie sang as skylar listened, her heart sinking at the thought of her dad

she immediately felt her eyes tear up. noticing as charlie has his eyes closed seeing as he was very concentrated she walked to the restroom that was a few feet away from her

as she closed the bathroom door, she leaned on the wall, slowly sliding down to the floor. charlie's voice echoing in the background

"silent days
mysteries and mistakes
who'd be the first to break
guess we're alike that way
he said, she said
conversations in my head
and that's just where they're gonna stay forever"

"if i could take us back
if i could just do that
and write in every empty space
the words i love you in replace"

she pulled out her phone, scrolled through her photo albums. she stopped at the album that was dedicated to her father. clicking on it, the first thing to appear was a video followed along with a whole bunch of baby pictures that included her father

she swallowed the lump in her throat before clicking play. mark cameron was seated up on the hospital bed, a hospital gown hugged his body.

"hi girls" he started, as his signature smile was plastered on his face "i know i act like i'm fine, but i'm not. as your mom took you down to the cafeteria i had a talk with the doctor, and things don't seem too good. truth is, i don't know what's going to happen to me. which scares me, because i don't want to leave you girls" mark said, tears filling his eyes. at this point skylar had tears rolling down her cheeks

"but, if things go sideways. and something happens to me, then i won't be here to watch you girls get your first boyfriends nor will i be able to scare them off" he chuckled sadly "as you two grow up, i know you are bound to fall in love" he said softly

"which is why i want you to promise me something. if you love someone, you tell them. even if you're scared that it's not the right thing. even if you're scared it will cause problems. even if you're scared it will burn your life to the ground. you say it. you say it loud. and you go from there" mark said as he took a breath before continuing

"i want you to know that you two are by far the greatest thing to ever happen to me. i don't know how i ever got so lucky. i am so proud of you two. the amount of talent you two have is indescribable. dani, your love for acting is as big as my love for you. i know you'll make it to be that actress you always wanted to be. to my little sky, the love you hold in your heart is one of the most magical things i've ever seen along with your angelic voice. i know you told me once, that without me, you don't ever want to sing. but sky, i want you to promise me that you will continue to sing. i know at first it will be hard, but i want you to know that i will be there, right next to you, singing along to every word" mark continued before taking a few seconds to catch his breath "i'll always be there, right next to the two of you. no matter where you are in this world. i'll be there. i love you more than my life itself"

those were the last words mark cameron ever dedicated to his daughters.